Abstract
The article analyzes the idea of Turkic integration in the context of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence. It is established that the idea of Turkic integration in the modern format has a century and a half history. At its origins stood such prominent representatives of the Turkic-speaking countries as: I. Gasparaly, S. Zhanturin, Yu. Akchura, A. Huseynzade, A. Agaoglu, G. Ibragimov, A.-M. Topchubashev, M. Bigeev, Sh. Syrtlanov, S. Maksudi, etc. The role of Ismail Gasparala and the newspaper «Terjiman» in spreading the ideas of Turkic integration in pre-revolutionary Russia is particularly highlighted. In Kazakhstan, the most active supporter of the integration of the Turkic peoples was Mustafa Shokai. A significant contribution to the substantiation of the ideas of Turkism was made by well-known Turkologists: H.-S. Khodjaev, B. Choban-zade, S. Asfendiyarov. After gaining independence and the emergence of five new Turkic states, the idea of Turkic integration acquired a new meaning and momentum. The idea of integration began to turn into an important political factor in interstate relations. A full – fledged international organization, the Turkic Council, has been established, which has received observer status in the UN Security Council. Many implemented initiatives on the formation of organizational structures of the Turkic integration: the Secretariat of the CCTS, TurkPA, TURKSOY, the Turkic Academy, the Council of Elders are associated with the name and activities of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Key words: Turkic integration, I. Gasparaly, the newspaper «Terjiman», the principle of Turkism, Mustafa Shokai, Turkologists, the Turkic Council, TurkPA, Turksoy, the Turkic Academy, Nursultan Nazarbayev.